Blizzard watch issued for Christmas night

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard watch for the region Christmas night with the heaviest snow between 8 p.m. and midnight Christmas night. The snow is expected to be heavy and wet and could cause downed limbs and power lines.

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The Daily Register - Harrisburg, IL

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Posted Dec. 24, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Updated Dec 24, 2012 at 2:20 PM

Posted Dec. 24, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Updated Dec 24, 2012 at 2:20 PM

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard watch for the region Christmas night with the heaviest snow between 8 p.m. and midnight Christmas night. The snow is expected to be heavy and wet and could cause downed limbs and power lines.

A LOW PRESSURE CENTER WILL TRACK NORTHEAST ACROSS MIDDLE TENNESSEE ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT. ON THE NORTH AND WEST SIDE OF THE LOW TRACK...A SWATH OF HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS MAY CREATE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PADUCAH HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

* SNOWFALL AMOUNTS: THE LOCATION OF THE RAIN SNOW LINE WILL BE CRITICAL FOR DETERMINING SNOWFALL AMOUNTS. BASED ON THE CURRENT EXPECTED STORM TRACK...THE RAIN SNOW LINE WILL EXTEND FROM AROUND NEW MADRID MISSOURI...NORTHEAST ACROSS PADUCAH KENTUCKY...TO AROUND EVANSVILLE INDIANA. SNOWFALL AROUND ONE FOOT IS QUITE POSSIBLE WHERE THE PRECIPITATION IS ALL SNOW. NEAR THE RAIN SNOW LINE...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE MUCH LESS CERTAIN. DUE TO POTENTIAL ERRORS IN THE FORECAST STORM TRACK...PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO LATER FORECASTS.

* WINDS: WINDS ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 25 MPH...WITH FREQUENT GUSTS FROM 35 TO 45 MPH. THESE STRONG WINDS WILL PERSIST INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* TIMING: THE HEAVIEST SNOW AND STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BETWEEN 8 PM AND MIDNIGHT ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT. CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN TO IMPROVE BETWEEN 5 AM AND 10 AM ON WEDNESDAY.

* IMPACTS: BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA.

SHOULD THE WATCH BE UPGRADED TO A BLIZZARD WARNING...EXPECT TRAVEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW COULD MAKE ROADS IMPASSABLE, WHITEOUT CONDITIONS MAY CREATE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION FOR THOSE VENTURING OUTDOORS.

* OTHER IMPACTS: THE HEAVY WET SNOW AND STRONG WINDS MAY BRING DOWN SOME TREES AND POWER LINES. IN ADDITION...SHOVELLING HEAVY WET SNOW HAS CAUSED HEART ATTACKS...BACK PROBLEMS...AND OTHER ISSUES IN PAST WINTER STORMS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.